May 15, 2015 (El Cajon)--This week’s Destination East County includes Classic Cars, a wine and food festival, America on Main Street, a Last Chance Romance and more.

Plus we’ll also have a preview of coming attractions including a fiddlers’ competition in Julian, A Street Fair in Santee and Craft Beer festival.   So stay tuned for all of these events and much more!

May 12, 2015 (El Cajon) --  Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in El Cajon responded to reports of a commercial structure fire in the 100 block of Fletcher Parkway in the early morning hours on May 3rd.  Upon arrival firefighters found heavy black smoke coming from a commercial building at the site of the former El Cajon Police station.

May 6, 2015 (El Cajon) – The spring series of the San Diego County Library Acoustic continues in May with nine concerts taking place throughout the month! The Acoustic Showcase series offers a wonderful variety of some of San Diego’s very best singers/songwriters, folk music performers, and story tellers. These concerts are FREE to the community.

Kids Night Out

May 6, 2015 (El Cajon) - The City of El Cajon Recreation Department offers youth, ages 7 to 12, a safe and entertaining place to go on a Friday night, called a “Kids Night Out Party!”  This program  includes free swim, games, dinner and fun! The party takes place on Friday, May 8, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Fletcher Hills Center, located at 2345 Center Place in El Cajon.  The fee is $10 per child. Pre-registration is required. Hurry, space is limited! Register at any City of El Cajon Recreation Center or online at www.elcajonrec.org.  For more information, please contact Heather Birchard at (619) 441-1672.

May 4, 2015 (El Cajon)--At approximately 9:03 p.m., Friday, May 1, Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in El Cajon responded to reports of a structure fire in the nine-hundred block of Broadway.  Upon arrival firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the windows of “Broadway Thrift” store at 941 Broadway.

By Miriam Raftery

April 25, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has released a $200 billion, 35-year regional growth plan for the county titled "San Diego Forward: The Regional Plan."   The plan lays out visions for transportation, sustainability and growth through 2050 including higher density land use along transportation corridors.

Several public hearings will be held including a May 13^th hearing at 6 p.m. in La Mesa’s community center.  But thus far, no hearings have been schedule in East County’s mountain, desert or rural areas.

East County Magazine asked the County why no hearings are scheduled in those areas. We pointed out that rural, mountain and desert areas lack public transit, making it difficult for residents to travel long distances to attend hearings in San Diego or even La Mesa.  In response, the County indicated it could hold additional workshops potentially if a community group to partner with could be found.

By Robert Gehr©

April 26, 2015 (El Cajon)--The grand opening  of Cajon Classic Cruises last Wednesday night appeared to be a rousing success. Everywhere I looked there were crowds of people checking out old cars. Most were fully restored in various manners, yet a few were ‘as is’ and still needing much work. Perhaps the owners had not gotten around to that yet, or maybe the ‘rat’ look was by design.

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

East County News Service

April 24, 2015 (El Cajon )  --An El Cajon mother is heartbroken after thieves stole her baby daughter’s cremated ashes.

April 22, 2015 (El Cajon)—El Cajon has rolled back its sales tax from 9% to 8.5% due to the sunsetting of Proposition O, a temporary sales tax that helped build public safety facilities and more.

Playing now through April 25 at Valhalla High School Theatre Arts

By Kathy Carpenter

Associate and Youth Reviewer sdtheatrereviews

PHOTO: Paul Barnes, president of Shea Homes in San Diego ,presents El Cajon historian and author Eldonna Lay with a check for his firm’s lifetime membership in the El Cajon Historical Society. The two stand behind a historic marker installed by Shea Homes to commemorate the adjacent ancient site of El Granito Springs that once flowed beside the high granite ridge along Avocado Blvd. Photographer: archivist Mike Kaszuba, El Cajon Historical Society.

East County News Service

April 16, 2015 (El Cajon )--The boulder and brass plaque requested by the El Cajon Historical Society honors the ten thousand years or more that El Granito’s spring waters were used by tribes of local and far-flung Indian nations traveling between the desert and the Pacific Ocean shores.

Hear our interview with Joel Gossert, Circle Players:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

 

East County News Service

April 18, 2015 (El Cajon)-- “Café Murder” will be presented by The Circle Players of East County, a new community theatre group, May 1 through May 3 at Richardson Hall, 551 Farragut Circle, El Cajon.

April 14, 2015 (El Cajon)—Communities Against Substance Abuse (CASA) and the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce are offering a training program for stores on how to avoid selling alcohol to minors.  A recent sting operation by El Cajon Police found 18 of 66 stores selling alcohol to minors – and three stores did it twice.

East County News Service

April 16, 2015 (El Cajon)--The East County Democratic Club (ECDC) will consider issues related to the U.S.-Mexican Border, at its April 23, 2015, meeting.  Pedro Rios, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) project director, will address members and guests at  Coco’s Restaurant, 1324 East Main Street, El Cajon, 92021.  The featured speaker’s commentary will be first on the agenda at the 7 p.m. meeting, followed by a question and answer session.

Rios leads the AFSC’s U.S./Mexico Border Program.  He has been on the AFSC staff for twelve years. He is also chairperson for the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, a coalition of over 30 organizations in San Diego working to support the rights of immigrants and refugees. A native San Diegan, Rios has worked on immigrant rights and border issues for over 18 years. He became active on immigration issues in the early 1990s, when California was debating the passage of Proposition 187, the anti-immigrant initiative that was later ruled unconstitutional.

Source: Cuyamaca College

April 15, 2015 (Rancho San Diego)--Like honey bees to a hive, the public swarms Cuyamaca College each year for its immensely popular Spring Garden Festival.  This year, the 22^nd annual free event takes place 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 25.